The Charlotte Jewish News - September, 1996 - Page 7
Israeli Election Was Victory for Judaism
Point pfView
Each issue of the CJN features an
article written by one of three rabbis
active in the Charlotte Community.
This Month:
' Rahhi Yoseph Groner .
Lubavitch of
North Carolina
By Rabbi Yossi Groner
Although it is too soon to tell
what the long term effects of the
recent elections in Israel are, one
thing is certain, a significant
majority of Jews in Israel did not
feel comfortable with the state of
affairs. Sixty percent of the
Jewish voters in Israel said they
want change. The majority of
Israeli voters expressed their dis
trust of the promises and dreams
that were to usher in the dawn of
a new era in the Middle East.
All of the convincing argu
ments made by the previous gov
ernment, and its agents in the
Israeli media, did not stand well
with the majority of Jewish vot
ers. Israeli Jews did not believe
that by following the Oslo
Accords, they will see the birth of
a new Middle East, a garden of
delight in which Israel would be
one of the centerpieces.
Most political analysts
focused on the “peace process”
and the changes it will undergo as
a result of the election. Can Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu,
who represents the “peace
through strength” approach, suc
ceed in bringing a real peace to
the Middle East? That is the ques
tion most commentators ponder.
What is certain is that Mr.
Netanyahu has a clear mandate to
retain the territories of Judea,
Samaria, especially Hebron, and
the Golan Heights and to further
settle the land with Jewish inhab
itants and to keep the entire city
of Jerusalem under Israeli control.
Another encompassing issue
faced Israeli voters on May 29. It
may not be as captivating as the
issue of security, but it is never
theless an important issue as it
speaks to the Jewish destiny of
Israel. Voters had the option to
choose between a more religious-
traditional representation and a
more secular and pluralistic gov
ernment. The election results
would have a significant impact
on issues regarding Judaism.
What voters actually said
was that they want a more Jewish
Israel. They want more Judaism
taught in their schools, they want
more sensitivity to religious
needs on the part of the govern
ment, and they want more Jewish
tradition in their lives.
The vote in Israel was a ref
erendum on the very character of
the State of Israel. Is Israel a
Jewish state where Judaism and
Jewish pride thrives, or is it a sec
ular state where a majority of its
citizens happen to be Jewish?
The battle lines were drawn
during the last four years of the
previous government, through
statements and actions which
stunned the Israeli population.
Some examples will illus
trate this point. In a case which
made headlines, the last Prime
Minister Yitzchak Rabin was crit
icized for reciting the “Shma
Yisrael” prayer at a memorial ser
vice held for the victims of the
Bergen-Belsen death camps.
Rabin, who had been invited by
the German government to repre
sent the State of Israel at the
memorial, delivered an emotional
sermon which he ended with a
prayer recited by many of the
Nazi victims. The then Minister
of Education threatened a no-con-
fidence vote for the “crime” of a
State official reciting a religious
prayer.
That same Minister had
made derogatory statements
about King David in public and
continuously mocked the Jewish
religion. She was largely respon
sible for cutting the already-limit
ed curriculum in Biblical history.
The then Minister of Religious
Affairs introduced ideas which
sought to minimize the impor
tance of Jewish religion.
This neglect of Jewish values
by many in the previous govern
ment was also expressed in their
attitude toward the holiness of the
land. Statements were made by
high officials in the previous gov
ernment that denigrated the
importance of the city of Hebron,
the burial site of the Jewish
Patriarchs. “You care about the
graves of the Patriarchs; we care
about the children,” they said.
Israelis value their land and
see it as a G-d given eternal gift to
the Jewish people. They value its
history and consider the land of
Israel to be inseparable from
Judaism. They also realize that
people who don’t care about our
history and heritage don’t really
care about our Jewish future.
One must understand that
although the majority of Israelis
are not Orthodox and do not con
sider themselves religious, they
nevertheless tend to identify with
their religion and want to keep it
sacred. They shudder when it is
suggested to remove the word
“Jew” from the Israeli national
anthem, as some from the previ
ous government had recommend
ed.
What the election results tell
us is that Israeli Jews felt that they
were being pulled too far from
their roots and were fearful of los
ing touch with their heritage.
Israeli Jews said loud and clear
that they want a Jewish state with
a Jewish soul and a Jewish heart.
They feel comfortable with the
fact that for the first time in
Knesset history, over 25% of the
Members of Parliament wear a
“kippah” and openly display their
religion.
How refreshing it was to hear
Netanyahu’s first acceptance
speech include the words
“B’ezerat Hashem,” with the help
of G-d. Jews all over the world
listened with pride as the new
Prime Minister concluded his
address to the United States
Congress with the Biblical verse
“G-d will give strength to his peo
ple, G-d will bless his people with
peace.”
It Shimon Peres had won, the
results of the election would have
been interpreted as just the oppo
site. It would mean that the
majority had chosen to distance
itself from its ancient heritage and
was ready to become totally secu
lar. This point is further empha
sized by the fact that Peres could
not muster a Jewish majority; his
predicted victory in the polls was
based on a heavy Arab vote,
Israel will continue to be a
pluralistic society, but its founda
tion will be Judaism. There is
much left to comment as to what
the future holds for Israel. There
are many unanswered questions
facing Israelis. Will Jews be able
to maintain a majority status in
Israel? Will the religious parties
be sensitive to the needs of all
Israelis? I hope these issues will
be resolved in a fair and timely
manner.
In conclusion, I am hopeful
for a better future for Israel, and I
join in prayer for a true and ever
lasting peace in Israel.
May the New Year bring all
of Israel and Jews everywhere a
happy, healthy and prosperous
New Year. May the Almighty G-d
make this the year of redemption
and peace through the arrival of
Moshiach, at which time all Jews
will be reunited in the Holy Land
and we will see the rebuilding of
the New Holy Temple in the Holy
City of Jerusalem.
L’shana Tovah Tikateivu
V’tichteimu!
Can
Israel
Count On ^u?
During this High Holy Day season,
cast a winning vote for Israel with Israel Bonds.
This is not an offering, which can be made onlij hi/ prospectus from:
Development Corporation For Israel
TSRAELRONDS
1100 Spring Street, Suite 720
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-817-3500* 800-752-5649
'"Wo